Defence Force sends hundreds of staff plus planes and ships to earthquake-affected south.

Three blokes in a 4WD have headed into big country searching out those needing help in the wake of the Kaikoura Earthquake.

Our photographers and reporters share some of the images captured after yesterday's quakes.

Mid Canterbury farmers are on standby to take dairy cows from quake-affected North Canterbury dairy farmers.

Helicopters from US and Malaysia will help out in Kaikoura, says PM John Key.

New Zealand Post is warning that some mail will be delayed in areas hit by this week's earthquakes.

Several cars drove past an unwell and elderly quake victim, dressed in her pyjamas as she struggled to higher ground with her walking

Tourism leaders fear the image of New Zealand as a destination will be harmed by the earthquakes.

Preliminary modelling suggests that the earthquake was caused by a rupture of a northeast-striking fault t, but this may be a more complex event.

A helicopter pilot says he could smell the fresh earth uncovered by the Kaikoura earthquake hundreds of metres in the air as he flew above the scene.

Tourists will be ranked according to need as the evacuation of Kaikoura begins.

A Dutch tourist waiting to be evacuated from Kaikoura says the people of the earthquake-damaged-town are her heroes.

On an impulse, Jamie Brosnahan and Jonathon O'Neill spent Sunday night in Kaikoura. The Rotorua couple were heading for Hanmer Springs

Tourists endure rough night in welfare centre and cars but rescue flights under way today.

JS141116NADQUAKE115.JPG A planned surf lesson for a group of international students at Sandy Bay went ahead yesterday after instructors

An English couple was brought to tears describing their nightmare New Zealand holiday.

The HMNZS Canterbury is expected to arrive in Kaikoura tomorrow.

'Long, scary night' for family as the earth continues to roll.

The evacuation, via sea, of tourists stranded in Kaikoura is still a day away.

HMNZS Canterbury is sailing to Kaikoura loaded with aid supplies and will bring back tourists and residents.

Most of Spark's South Island broadband and landline network is hanging by a thread. A cable running along the island's east coast

A historic homestead is in tatters and the four other properties on a north Canterbury sheep and beef farm were damaged in today's

The Clarence River has burst its banks, with residents being told to move to high ground immediately, as aftershocks continue to rock the country.

A search is underway for six kayakers after kayaks and other gear was found abandoned on the flooded Clarence River just before 5pm. A

Three cows have been luckily - or unluckily - stranded on an island of land, surrounded by collapsed earth from landslides near Kaikoura.

Most schools will open tomorrow, following hundreds of closures after the quake.

STL driver Dennis Dunn caused some alarm when he was feared buried but has been found safe and well between two large landslips.

Today's earthquake can trigger emotional trauma for Cantabrians even though there's been little physical damage in Christchurch, a psychologist says.

COMMENT: Among the bricks and shattered glass, we feared the worst. It appeared as if a hand grenade had been tossed inside the stylish colonial cottage.

Power is gradually being restored in Kaikoura, but sewerage systems and water supplies are still down and it could be days before they are back up and running, Civil Defence says.